Special tests for cervical radiculopathy, cervicogenic headache, and Canadian cervical spine (C-spine) rules. The Wainner's Clinical Prediction Rule for Cervical Radiculopathy, Spurling's Compression Test, Upper Limb Tension Test, Distraction Test, Shoulder Abduction Test, Cervical Flexion, and Rotation Test, and Canadian C-spine Rules for "red flags". The reliability, specificity, sensitivity, validity, safety, and screening for neck pain, headaches, and radiculopathy.
Special tests for cervical radiculopathy, cervicogenic headache, and Canadian cervical spine (C-spine) rules. The Wainner's Clinical Prediction Rule for Cervical Radiculopathy, Spurling's Compression Test, Upper Limb Tension Test, Distraction Test, Shoulder Abduction Test, Cervical Flexion, and Rotation Test, and Canadian C-spine Rules for "red flags". The reliability, specificity, sensitivity, validity, safety, and screening for neck pain, headaches, and radiculopathy.
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Radiculopathy and cervicogenic headache are relatively common symptom clusters correlated with chronic and acute cervical spine dysfunction. For example, long hours behind a desk with forward head postures, and whiplash syndrome following a car accident, can result in symptoms that match these diagnoses. Often patient complaints include the feeling of a "pinched nerve" with lateral bending (lateral flexion) or axial compression. Or, they may mention that their headache and neck symptoms tend to get worse at the same time, and sometimes "massage" aids in reducing their symptoms. In more serious cases nerve root compression (for example, with herniated disk) can result in radicular symptoms and muscle weakness. Both cervical radiculopathy and cervicogenic headache can be reliability assessed using the special tests covered in this course. For more serious issues that may imply a need for emergency care, the Canadian C-spine rules have demonstrated high sensitivity and utility in clinical practice. For example, fear of moving the neck and significant muscle weakness should imply a recommendation to visit an emergency room.
The special tests that demonstrate an acceptable level of accuracy for the cervical spine focus on just a few diagnoses, and likely miss the most common cervical complaints. Radiculopathy, cervicogenic headache, and screening for necessary imaging are covered in this course. These diagnoses do not include the common complaints of mechanical/postural chronic neck pain. Clinical experience and a comprehensive subjective examination will likely dictate whether the testing below is necessary. The most accurate tests, based on available research, were chosen for each potential diagnosis.
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